Good news: Expansion of automated ticket machines across Hungary’s public transport system
The MÁV-VOLÁN Group is continuing its efforts to simplify public transportation in Hungary, not only through the introduction of new fare reforms and the implementation of county and national passes but also by significantly increasing the number of ticket machines for both rail and bus services. As part of this initiative, 110 new machines will be installed across the country, with a total investment of HUF 1.1 billion (EUR 2.75 million). These include 93 machines for the Volánbusz network, 11 for HÉV lines, and 6 for MÁV-START, enhancing the existing infrastructure.
Number of ticket machines to increase
With this new deployment, the total number of ticket machines nationwide will rise to 658, reflecting a growing trend among passengers who prefer to purchase their tickets and passes through self-service platforms, either online or at ticket machines, Economx reports based on MÁV’s statement.
The installation of the new machines began on 7 October along the H5 and H8 HÉV lines. By mid-October, all 11 machines planned for these routes will be operational at key locations including Budakalász, Pomáz, and Gödöllő, among others. This will allow passengers to buy tickets at all suburban stops on these lines. In addition, county and national passes, which are valid on both HÉV and BKK services in Budapest, will also be available at these machines.
A notable change set to take effect from 15 October is that passengers on the Szentendre and Gödöllő HÉV lines will be required to have a valid ticket before beginning their journey. In the initial phase, passengers who board without a ticket will be warned until the end of November, after which they will be subject to a surcharge unless they purchase their ticket from a conductor.
Many ticket machines will only accept card payments
By the end of 2024, 70 of the planned 110 machines are expected to be operational, with the remaining units being installed by mid-2025 at Volánbusz and MÁV-START stations. Of the 93 machines set to be placed at Volánbusz stations, 30 will only accept card payments, while the others will accept both cash and card. The machines will be distributed across different regions, with 49 units going to the central region, including Pest and Fejér counties, 15 to the western region, and 29 to the eastern region, covering major bus stations in larger cities.
The machines will offer a variety of tickets, including intercity tickets for MÁV-START, MÁV-HÉV, and Volánbusz services, as well as county and national passes. Discounted versions of these passes, such as the Vármegye24 and Hungary24 day tickets, will also be available. Additionally, Budapest transport passes and BKK day tickets can be purchased.
However, passengers travelling within Budapest on the HÉV lines will not be able to buy single-journey tickets for the city from these machines. Instead, they can purchase tickets to the city boundary (e.g., Békásmegyer on H5 or Ilonatelep on H8), and then complete their journey by purchasing a Budapest ticket from a conductor without a surcharge.
As of 2023, MÁV-START has reported a significant improvement in the availability of these machines, with a near 97% operational rate. The percentage of passengers using ticket machines has also seen a rise. In 2019, only 12% of passengers bought tickets from vending machines, whereas by 2023, this figure had increased to 22.7%, with nearly every fourth traveller opting for self-service options. This reflects the growing demand for convenient, automated services across the transport network.
With this investment, the total number of ticket machines managed by MÁV-START will increase to 658, further enhancing the quality of service for passengers and making public transportation more accessible and efficient across the country.
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